NC lawmakers reach compromise on coal ash measure

RALEIGH, NC (AP) -- State House and Senate leaders say lawmakers have reached a compromise on legislation that would make Duke Energy curb pollution from its 33 coal ash dumps across North Carolina.

A statement from House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Phil Berger said conferees reached an agreement Tuesday that would give the state the strictest regulations in the nation. The statement said the legislation would make the state the first to force the closure of all coal ash ponds.

The statement said the bill sets a 15-year timetable for closing all unlined coal ash ponds. It also eliminates the practice of wet ash disposal.

The last version of the bill publicly released last month would have required Duke to remove the ash at four of its 14 coal-fired plants.

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